Computers are like automobiles, you need to give them routine maintenance in order for them to properly get you from point A to point B. Computers are like any other machines. they do break and they do need service. There are many options out there to maintain your computer. In this article, I will give tips and trick on how to do this yourself without a headache.

I have been to many homes and businesses where many people are unaware they have to maintain their computer in order for it to function properly. People always tell me ” I didn’t know I needed to clean my cookies cache etc”. In the real world people take things such as computers for granted as they do their cars. They do not think about the consequences of their using their PC’s every day.

Here we are, you are reading this article because you would like to know how to properly schedule maintenance and what programs to use. Well we are about to embark on how and when to do these things to keep your PC’s and laptops in good health.

First thing that I do is plan a schedule of when you do things such as a virus scan, malware scan, or even a disk defragment. I will discuss each of these in more detail. Here are 5 ways to accomplish this.

1. Operating System security updates

Microsoft constantly releases updates for Windows and the Microsoft Office Suite to fix security issues and to improve performance. These updates fall into 3 categories: High Priority, Suggested and Drivers.

At a minimum, you must install the High Priority updates. I can’t stress this enough—ignoring these updates is not wise! High Priority updates include security patches and major bug fixes that are critical to keeping your PC secure and running well. If you have a slow Internet connection and the update file is large, you can order a CD and have Microsoft mail it to you, or leave your computer online all night to download it.

Suggested updates are optional and can improve performance, but are not as critical. Feel free to update these if you’d like. Driver updates can sometimes cause headaches; unless you know you need the update or you’re having trouble with the device the update is for, I wouldn’t install it.

After you have applied any update, always go back to Windows Update to make sure that there isn’t another patch that you need to download. I know it sounds silly, but it’s true—often there are patches for patches, so keep returning to Windows Update until it tells you that you have no High Priority updates left to install.

Save yourself some trouble—Operating System updates can easily be done automatically by having Automatic Updates configured on your computer.

2. Anti-Virus Software

When was the last time you updated your Anti-Virus software? If you can’t remember, then chances are you are out of date.

If you want to keep your computer free from viruses, it’s not enough to simply have an anti-virus program. New computer viruses are created all the time, so it’s important to update your virus definitions regularly and run scheduled scans on your computer. Your anti-virus software company may charge an annual fee to keep your virus definitions current.

Again, you can often set these tasks to run at a time when you are not working on your machine (like in the middle of the night). There are a number of quality programs available, and some are even free.

3. Spyware Prevention Software

Believe it or not, one of the biggest plagues to hit personal computers aren’t viruses, but spyware. There hasn’t been a PC I’ve touched in the past year that wasn’t plagued with some form of spyware. Spyware is a general term for a program that secretly monitors your actions. While they are sometimes malicious, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have also been known to use spyware to gather data about customers.

To get rid of it, download and install software that will remove spyware from your system. There are a number of free quality tools available that aid in removing this unwanted or malicious content. Like anti-virus software, you must keep these programs up to date and run a computer scan regularly. Check to see if your anti-spyware software has options for automatic updates and scans.

4. Disk Cleanup & Defragmentation

These two maintenance items are used together. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard drive to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, such as temporary Internet files and items you’ve placed in the trash, and then lets you choose which files to delete.

Once you’ve removed the temporary and unnecessary files from your computer, you can run the Disk Defragmenter to increase the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer. Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer’s hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up. So, after a disk cleanup has been done, do a defragmentation of your hard drive afterwards.

5. Backup Your Data

After all this hard work of keeping everything up-to-date and secure, it would be a shame if your hard drive failed and you had to start all over. Hardware problems are more common than you think, so having a reliable backup system in place is a must. Should something go wrong, you’ll be thankful for a handy backup.

• How do I make a backup?
  If your computer comes with a CD or DVD burner, they can make for a good backup medium. You could also use an external hard drive, or back up your data online if you have a broadband connection.
• What do I back up?
  The most important thing to backup is your data—Word files, photos, Excel spreadsheets and the like. You don’t have to backup your entire hard drive, just the items you can’t replace. There’s no need to back up your software since it can be reinstalled using the original CDs or re-downloaded. If you find that your data is scattered in a bunch of directories, look into migrating it over to your “My Documents” folder so that you only have one folder to backup.
• When To Backup
  Regardless of how you backup or what you backup, the most important element in having a reliable backup system is that you do it regularly. Depending on how often you use your PC, once a month may be sufficient. If you use it more frequently or rely on it for work, you may want to back up weekly or even daily. In many cases, it’s possible to automate the process so your computer will create your backups without any extra effort on your part.

You do not have to do everything that I have mentioned above in one day. Plan your schedule. Generally I do a malware scan weekly, a virus scan monthly or between 2 to 3 weeks, a disk defragment every month.

I have had computers and hardware last me year upon years because I have learned these simple and easy ways to maintain my computer. I hope this article has been informative and helpful.

Till Next time
Dan
Geekazoid Tech